Four way expandable table with rail guards



Dec. 15, 1959 J. HUFF FOUR WAY EXPANDABLE TABLE WITH RAIL GUARDS Filed Nov. 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. fly 52 474 22 gave;

Dec. 15, 1959 J. HUFF 2,917,262

FOUR WAY EXPANDABLE TABLE WITH RAIL GUARDS Filed NOV- 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States O l 2,917,262 FOUR WAY EXPANDABLE TAELE GUARDS John Huff, Chicago, 111. Application November 7, 1957, SerialNo. 695,168 6 (Cl. 2 48- 172)" This invention relates to tables or the like for supper;- ing a wide variety of different size items such as portable television apparatus.

Currently there are on the market many different kinds of portable television sets which vary in size not only widthwise but also in depth; All tablespresently sold to my knowledge have no means to accommodate these different sizes or are so complex in requiring additions by bolting and the like-or providing dr'o'p leafs. These are costly and take up too much space"; Furthermore, to the best of my knowledge there is no table which incorporates guard rails in the extensions for insuring against dropping of the supported article by its sliding off the top. I

It is a primary object or this invention to devise a simple table with four-way extensions in which the extensions are formed to provide guard rails.

A further object of the invention is to devise a novel expandable table in which the parts are arranged to be mutually sustaining to cellectiv'ely develop inordinate strength in the entire structure.

A different object of the invention is to devise a table top which comprises four tubular portions disposed in a quadrilateral arrangement about the sides of the top with one pair of laterally spaced portions disposed above the other pair and into the corresponding ends of each of these pairs of portions there being fitted the legs of U-shaped extenders whereby the legs of the extendersat opposite ends of the lower pair are disposed beneath the extenders of the upper pair and the extenders being turlned upwardly at their bight portions to provide guard rai s.

A still further object is to position the upper and lower tubular portions of the edges of the top so that they develop grooving for holding an insert top therebetween.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the specification and the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a table partially broken away illustrating one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figures 5-8 illustrate a modification, Figure 5 being ve'm'ng opposite edge upturned or upper tubular portions 7 ing integrated into the opposite ends of a bight portion 26 which together with the portions '24 and 25 forms a guard rail structure extending above the plane ofthe top. It will be noted that the lower members have their upstanding portions slightly longer than the upper members so that the tops of the rails are of about the same height. H

In order to insure that the extenders remain in place when adjusted, the legs are initially sprung and they diverge away from each other so that when inserted into their respective tubular portions andv aligned parallel, the outward bias tends to hold thelegs tightly against the interior of its respective portion. p

A further feature of the invention is that not only do the tubular. edges rigidity the top but the upper portions 6 and 7 by their curvature of their outer peripheries 27 and 27 develop with the upper edges of thelower portions as well as the top side 28 of the top plate a pair of interlocking grooves 30 and 31 into which fit the lateral edges 32, 33 of atop filler member 34 which in the instant case is preferably a masonite board.

Thus the wire legsstilfen the edges which being tubular'strengthe'n the top and also provide interlocking means for the insert filler.

The instant design of Figures 5 8 is substantially the same as the previous and therefore all parts identical with those of the'previous embodiment are identified by the same reference numerals. This embodiment differs from the previous in that the-top plate is eliminated and tubes 50, 51, '52, and 53 are arranged in a quadrilateral and the upper tubes 50, :52 'are welded as at,54 to the top sides 56 of the leg mounting brackets 9 whereas the bottom tubes 51, 53 are welded as at 57 to the bottom sides 59 of the brackets 9. The filler board or member 34 sits on the brackets and fits with its edges 32 and 33 between the side members 50, 52 in the grooves 60, 61 developed thereby with the lower tubes and said brackets 9. The

extension guard rail members are the same as in the previous embodiment.

Thus a novel, simple and effective four-way expandable table is provided which is economical to manufacture and which because of the arrangement of parts is exceptionally strong but lightweight.

It will be understood that only the preferred embodirnents of the invention are shown and discussed by way of disclosure and that other forms will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1

1. A four-way expandable table comprising a quadrilateral structure including a pair of upper tubular generally parallel side portions disposed at opposite sides of the quadrilateral, a second pair of tubular lower-side portions at the remaining two sides of the quadrilateral, leg means connected to said structure in supporting relationship thereto, and combined guard and extension members at each side of said structure each being U-shaped in plan and including two leg portions inserted into the adjacent ends of the associated side portions, and upward extensions on the outer ends of the leg portions and a bight portion between the extensions and forming with the extensions a guard rail above the plane of said structure wherein said upper portions present with portions of said structure grooves at opposite sides of the table, and a top filler comprising a substantially flat, plate-like member spanningthe distance between said upper portions and having lateral edges extending into respective grooves in interlocking engagement between said upper portions and said structure. I I

2. A four-way expandable table comprising a quadrilateral structure including a pair of upper tubular generally parallel side portions disposed at opposite sides of the quadrilateral, a second pair of tubular lower side portions at the remaining two sides of the quadrilateral, leg means connected to said structure in supporting relationship thereto, and combined guard and extension members at each side of said structure each being U-shaped in plan and including two leg portions inserted into the adjacent ends of the associated side portions, and upward exten-.

sions on the outer ends of the leg portions and a bight portion between the extensions and forming with the extensions a guard railabove the plane of said structure and said upper and lower portions comprising tubular members, and leg brackets at the corners of the quadrilateral having top and bottom sides respectively connected to the upper and lower portions.

3. A four-way expandable table comprising a quadrilateral structure including a pair of upper tubular generally parallel side portions disposed at opposite sides of the quadrilateral, a second pair of tubular lower side portions at the remaining two sides of the quadrilateral, leg means connected to said structure in supporting rela tionship thereto, and combined guard and extension members at each side of said structure each being U-shaped in plan and including two leg portions inserted into the adjacent ends of the associated side portions, and upward extensions on the outer ends of the leg portions and a bight portion between the extensions and forming with the extensions a guard rail above the plane of said structure and said upper and lower portions comprising tubular members, and leg brackets at the corners of the quadrilateral having top and bottom sides respectively connected to the upper and lower portions, and said upper portions defining with the brackets opposing grooves, and a top insert seated upon the lower portions and said brackets and wedged between the brackets and said upper portions to retain said insert in place.

4. 'A four-way expandable table comprising a quadrilateral structure including a pair of upper tubular generally parallel side portions disposed at opposite sides of the quadrilateral, a second pair of tubular lower side portions at the remaining two sides of the quadrilateral, leg means connected to said structure in supporting relationship thereto, and combined guard and extension members at each side of said structure each being U-shaped in plan and including two leg portions inserted into the adjacent ends of the associated side portions, and upward extensions on the outer ends of the leg portions and a bight portion between the extensions and forming with the extensions a guard rail, above the plane of said structure and said structure being formed of sheet metal and being rolled along its edges into tubular forms and forming said upper and lower portions.

5. In a table, the combination of a quadrilateral planar top structure including a pair of substantially parallel generally tubular edge portions projecting widthwise above the plane of the top and developing a pair of outwardly tapered mutually facing grooves at opposite sides of the top, and a filler insert of at least the size of the top between said portions having lateral edges tightly engaged in respective grooves.

6. A four-way expandable table comprising a quadrilateral structure including a pair of upper tubular generally parallel side portions disposed at opposite sides of the quadrilateral, a second pair of tubular lower side portions at the remaining two sides of the quadrilateral, leg means connected to said structure in supporting relationship thereto, and combined guard and extension members at each side of said structure each being U-shaped in plan and including two leg portions inserted into the adjacent ends of the associated side portions, and upward extensions on the outer ends of the leg portions and a bight portion between the extensions and forming with the extensions a guard rail above the plane of said structure, and said upper and lower portions comprising tubular members, and means at the corners of the quadrilateral having top and bottom sides respectively connected to the upper and lower portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

